Judge refuses to free boy who confessed to tossing shopping cart in Harlem that put woman in a coma

Scene where Marion Hedges was critically injured by cart

A judge on Wednesday refused to release the 12-year-old boy who nearly killed a Manhattan mom with a shopping cart because of his history of out-of-control behavior — including shoving his principal.

Family Court Judge Susan Larabee had a laundry list of concerns about Raymond H. — including neglect reports from the Administration for Children’s Services and the fact his mom wasn’t clear on the number of times Raymond, who still sucks his thumb, had been suspended from school.

“She thought he had five suspensions, [including] one for fighting and one for stealing. He actually has six suspensions,” Larabee said as a sentencing proceeding against the pint-sized punk began.

She said there also were reports of Raymond “throwing a chair and pushing a principal.”

At a bench conference with the prosecutor and defense lawyer, Larabee appeared worried that Raymond "sucks his thumb quite a bit."

One of three ACS neglect reports dates to when Raymond was six.

It showed that the boy's mom kept him home from school to help her with "moping and cleaning" because she was overwhelmed by his older, developmentally disabled sister.

“I'm not changing your client's status,” Larabee barked as Raymond's lawyer, William Nicholas, asked that he be sent home from a secured group home until sentencing is decided. He's due back in court Dec. 20.

The judge ordered prosecutors to get further school and mental health reports for her to consider.

Raymond and a pal confessed to assault charges for tossing the cart over the rail of a Harlem mall, a prank that put Marion Hedges, a 47-year-old mother and philanthropist, into a coma Oct. 30.

The judge denied a request by the boy's Legal Aid lawyer, William Nicholas, for her not to watch graphic portions of a surveillance tape that captured the cart striking Hedges - for fear it would prejudice her.

“She still suffers terrible injuries to this day,” Nicholas said. “But that doesn't have to be displayed to the court.”

Raymond and the other boy, identified in court papers as Jeovanni R., could be ordered held in a juvenile detention center until they turn 18 or could be paroled.